An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

15. וּני ֵל֫ ָע ררֵ תָּ ְשׂ ת־י ִ ִכּ
׃ררֵ תָּ ְשׂ ה־ם ִ ַגּ
Now you even want to set yourself up as ruler over us!
Num 16:13
[Page 587] g The intensifying effect of the infinitive absolute is found in a variety of
non-affirming contexts. In impassioned questions the prepositive infinitive shows
doubt or the improbability of an affirmative answer (## 16–18). A preposed infinitive
may also be used in a conditional clause (## 19–21) or a counterfactual expression
(‘O that…, if only…’; ## 22–23). Various modal nuances are also associated with
preposed infinitives absolute (## 24–25). 31
16. וּני ֵל֫ ָע ךְלֹ ְמ תּ ִ ךְלֹ ָמ הֲ
וּנבּ ֑֫ ָ לֹשׁמְ תּ ִ לוֹשׁמ־ם ָ אִ
17. וּנ ְל ַכ֫ א ָ לוֹכאָ הֶ
תא ֵשּׂ נ־ם ִ א ִ ךְ ֶל ֶמּ ֫ ה־ן ַ ִמ
׃וּנ ָל ֫ א ָשּׂ נִ
18. ידָי ִ הרָ ְצק ָ רוֹצקָ הֲ
תוּדפְּ ִמ
19. הי ָ ֶ֫
ְ
20.
21.
Will you actually reign over us and rule us?
Gen 37:8
Have we eaten anything from the king(‘s holdings) or
has he ever lifted away (tax obligations) for us?
2 Sam 19:43
Really, is my arm too short to be redeemed?
Isa 50:2
נ ָפבּ קרָי ַ קֹרָי הי ָ בִ֫ אָ וְ
If her father had happened to spit in her face…
דקֵ ָפִּי דקֵ ָפּ ה־ם ִ ִ
ר ַמֹא רֹמא־ם ָ ִ
22. ל ַכא ָ לֹכא ָ אוּל י ִכּ ףאַ ם ָעה ָ םוֹיּהַ 23.
24.
Num 12:14
א If he should happen to be missing…
1 Kgs 20:39
א If I say…
1 Sam 20:21
If only the troops had eaten today…
1 Sam 14:30
ישׂ֑ ִ ְע ַכּ לקֵ ָשִּׁי לוֹק ָשׁ וּל If only my anguish could be weighed (Qal inf. abs. +
י ִכּ עדַ נ ֵ עוֹדָי ַ ֲ
25. שׁרֵ חֲ ַ ן ֵ
Niphal non-perf.)…
Job 6:2
ה How could we possibly have known that…? 32
ִ ה תִּי־ימ Gen 43:7
Would to God you would be silent!
31 The sense of ˒ākōl tō˒kēl (Gen 2:16) may be ‘You may eat.’ Cf. 31.4d.
32 Contrast yādōa˓ tēda˓kî, ‘It is absolutely necessary that you know that…’(Gen 15:
13).